Kitty tucking tail, pawing various surfaces, peeing in bathtub, HELP!

[liberal_chick]

Background: Approx 6 year old, neutered, male kitty. 2-3 weeks ago escaped from house overnight and was in some sort of altercation. Bite wound on face was treated and healed up nicely. Was given rabies shot day after wound occurred.

The last week or so, he has started peeing and pooping in the house, mainly in the bathtub, but we also found some poop on our hall rug yesterday. When the peeing started, I took him to the vet to make sure it wasn't a UTI. Urine was clean and the culture wouldn't grow anything. Vet said it was probably an attitude problem.

He's sleeping a lot more (and trying to escape out the front door a lot less) and has been keeping his tail tucked under his body, which isn't typical of him at all. He's eating and drinking fine. He is also pawing at multiple hard surfaces around the house (computer desk, the kids' books, bathtub, linoleum floor, etc).

He just seems off to me, but I don't know if it is something that needs attention (and I know our vet will want to start with a blood test, $$$) or something that might pass if I give it another week. I typically wouldn't hesitate to take him to the vet, but I've taken animals every week but one for the past 5-6 weeks, so our funds are getting low. (And I seriously hate that THAT is the reason I am hesitant to take him. *sigh*)

[heartmama]

I am not an expert but it sounds pretty serious. If it were only the potty accidents that might just be a behavioral problem. A cat sleeeping a lot and becoming uninterested in his usual activities, and having accidents, is worrisome. Could have have contracted Feline Leukemia or HIV from the bite?

It is also possible he reacted badly to the vaccine he had.

[lonegirl]

Did they check for other bite wounds? Perhaps one along the back or bum? He clearly in some pain. He may have a cat-bite abcess that is showing it's face. I would get a thorough once over and a temp to make sure there is no infection. Is he having normal BMs?
His behavioural issues can be a presentation of pain.

[liberal_chick]

The vet checked him over very thoroughly at the visit after kitty got the bite. It was confined to his face.

BMs appear to be normal.

Feline leukemia and HIV are what I'm worried about. It is one of the reasons I've always kept the cats inside. I so hope that's not it.

I keep my vet's little girl tomorrow, so I'll ask his wife what she thinks (she worked with him for years and years), but I'm leaning toward taking him in tomorrow.

He escaped the back fence earlier (we have a dog door and he's recently found a weak spot in the fence to shimmy out of, apparently) and was laying under my car. I brought him in and put him on the sewing table and he's still laying there (over an hour later).

[SquishyKitty]

Not to sound alarmist, but something sounds very wrong and you need to get him in ASAP.

He is showing signs of pain or sickness, which has to be severe because cats are good at hiding that kind of thing.

I hope you're able to get him in soon.